Penguins forward Dupuis taken off on stretcher

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis was taken off the ice on a stretcher in the second period against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

Dupuis was cross-checked in the back by Stars defenseman Alex Goligoski with 6:58 remaining in the period. Dupuis fell to the ice in front of the Dallas crease and took a puck to the head. He shook off his gloves and motioned to the bench for assistance.

Dupuis was taken off after several minutes. He offered a thumbs-up to the Pittsburgh crowd as he approached the gate.

Penguins coach Mike Johnston said he was informed Dupuis had some numbness in his arm and that feeling was returning, but did not have any further updates. Players from each team, including Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, described Dupuis' injury as scary.

"I was looking up at the point to see where the puck was," Goligoski said. "I gave him a little shot and he kind of fell forward. I was kind of looking for the guy off the backside and I think it was [Penguins defenseman Kris] Letang who came in and as he went to shoot, I kind of see [Dupuis] duck down and put his head down.

"I'm not sure where it caught him. Scary moment though."

Dupuis, who is returning from a torn ACL sustained on Dec. 23, had four points and one goal through parts of three games this season. He had his first four-point game since March 2004 in the Penguins' 6-4 opening-night win against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 9.